Heath Lodge Care Home

Updated 15 July 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Heath Lodge Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Heath Lodge Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people using the service and 9 relatives of people using the service. We spoke with 8 staff, this included the care manager, the unit manager, 2 care assistants, the operations director, the registered manager, the regional manager, and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. During the inspection we carried out observations of the support provided and reviewed the care records relating to 4 people’s care and 2 people’s medicines management. We reviewed a range of records related to the running of the service. This included audits, training records, meeting minutes, environmental risks, medicines stock control, storage and disposal, and records relating to incidents.

Updated 15 July 2023

About the service

Heath Lodge Care Home is a residential care home providing the regulated activity personal care to up to 66 people. The service provides support to older people some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

Heath Lodge Care Home is a purpose-built residential care home. The building consists of a downstairs unit and upstairs unit. On each floor there are communal lounges, a dining room, and kitchen facilities. In addition Heath Lodge provides a reading room, a cinema room, and secure gardens. All bedrooms included en-suite wet rooms, smart TV's and mini-fridges. At the time of our inspection people were accommodated in the downstairs unit.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported to stay safe. Risks were assessed and actions to mitigate them taken. There were enough staff to meet people's needs, call bell records showed these were attended to promptly. People received their medicines as prescribed. We identified some areas of improvement were required around medicine records. The environment was clean and hygienic. Good infection control measures were taken.

People enjoyed the quality of the meals however we noted some improvements were needed to the mealtime experience. Holistic assessments of people's needs were carried out using nationally recognised assessment tools. People were supported by well trained staff. People's health needs were supported. Staff ensured people could access health services when required. The building was purpose built and people spoke positively of its design. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by individually caring staff. However, a lack of organisation in meeting requests from people at times caused frustration. People and relatives were supported to express their views on the support provided. People's dignity and independence was promoted.

People received person-centred care that met their needs. The activity provision in the home required further development. People and relatives felt able to raise concerns and these were responded to effectively.

A strong governance framework was in place. There was good oversight at both manager and provider level of the quality of the service. The provider was committed to ensuring a high quality service and was actively working to make improvements. There was a clear vision and staff understood the values expected of them. Recent changes to the management team had been positive. The manager was visible and approachable. Links with the local community were starting to develop.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 21 October 2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about medicines management, staffing levels and training, and management of the service. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the full key question sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.